Trolley-controller.



PATENTED NOV. 24,1903;

' W. B. LEEGRAFT.

TROLLEY CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 31, 1903.

' INVENTOI? z A W M N0 MODEL.

peculiar means involving novel and improved UNITE STATES 1 Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TRO LLEY-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,020,.dated November 24, 1903.

I Application filed JannarySI, 1903. Serial No. 141,283. mama.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER BENJAMIN. LEE- CRAFT, a resident of Denison, in the county of G-rayson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trollay-Controllers, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention has for its nature means operating to pull down the trolley-pole of an electric car when its trolley jumps the conductor-wire. V

Broadly stated, the invention consists of details of construction and arrangement-of parts which operate to instantly pull down the trolley-pole when its trolleyjumps the conductor-wire.

The invention consists, further, in utilizing air, gas, or fluid under pressure in connection with peculiarantomatic means operating, when the trolley jumps from theconductor-wire,to pull down the trolley-pole and hold it down.

- The invention consists, further, in providing an automatic signal worked -by the controller mechanism for notifying the conductor or motorman that the trolley is out of proper contact with'the conductor-wire along the track. 3

In orderto enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe it in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this-specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of.

a trolley-car, showing my invention in use. Fig. 2 is a view showing .my invention detached and enlarged with the cylinder in vertical section, and Fig. 3 shows an enlarged de-. tail sectional view of my improved valve. In carrying out my invention I employ a cylinder A, supported at upright position,

substantially as shown, or by any suitable means. ,7

B indicates a suitable piston having an expansion-spring B on itspiston-rod-B. The spring just mentioned is confined between the piston B and the upper-detachable end A of the cylinder Ar At or near the upper end of the piston rod' 13 ,1 provide a circular or disk-shaped flange B, which may have its outer edge B incllned,

as shown, adapted for locking engagement with a suitable yielding'catch 0, having a handle 0' or other means by which it may be worked. The engaging end of the catch 0 may be inclined at 0"", as shown. The pistonrod is suitably packed at A where it passes several times around a drum E onthe shaft F, which latter may be supported by suitable uprights F, though obviously simple brackets extending down from thecar-roof would answer and serve the same end. i

E indicates a drum of greater diameter than the drum E, which may bein one piece with the smaller drum and fixedly connected therewith. D indicates a cord with one end extending several times around the drum E, but wound thereon in opposite direction to the cord on the drum The upper end of the cord D is secured to the trolley-arm, a will be understood.

In Fig. 1 of my drawings I show the ordinary trolley-cord D which I do not claim, though it is used in connection with my invention for replacing the trolley.

G denotes a suitable whistle or alarm sound-, ed by air-pressure when-the piston is forced down below its connecting air-passage G, as

. may be integral with the cylinder A or secured thereto, as found expedient.

I indicates asui'table tube connecting in open comx'nunica'tionwith the upper ends of .the interior space of the cylinder A and the valve-chest H, as shown. J indicates asimi; lar tube providing open communication between the lower end of the cylinder -A and the lower inner space of the valve-chest H.,'as shown.

K indicates a tube connecting the inner space of the valve-chestH, as shown, which may extend from some'storage-tank on the car containing air, gas, or other fluid under pressure or have suitable-connection with a fiuid-car-brake system. The lower end of the valve-chest His closed by a screw-plug L,

having an adjusting-screw L, and the object of which is to adjus the tension of an expanmeans operating to draw down the trolley adapted to be closed byexcessive pressure of adapted upon excessive pressure to close the passage through the, said piston-valve, a tube supplying air under pressure to the said valvechest normally closed against passage of air by the said piston-valve, a flange on the piston-rod, as specified, and an automatic catch adapted for locking engagement with the said flange as the piston reaches the end of its inward stroke, substantially as described.

3. Iii-combination with a trolley-controller of the-character described employing air under pressure and a cylinder-piston and piston-rod with the latter in operative connection with the trolley-pole, a valve-chest having open communication with both ends of the said cylinder, means adapted to supply air under pressure to the valve-chest, a valve in the said chest normally cuttingofi the supply of air under pressure, a'spring serving to yieldingly support the said valve at its normal closing position, means adapted for adjusting the tension of the saidspring, and a passage through the said cut-off valve with means whereby it may be closed by excessive pressure produced at one end of the cylinder substantially as described.

4. In a trolley-controller of the character described, employing air pressure power means normally inactive when the trolley is in place on. the conductor-wire, the combination therewith of a yielding cut-0E in the said power means,consisting of a piston-valvehaving a passage through it normally open, but

air exerted, through and by suitable connecting mechanism, when the trolley leaves the conductor-wire substantially as described.

5. In a compressed-air trolley-controller,

pole when the trolley jumps from the conductor-wire, automatic locking means adapted to catch and hold the trolley pulled down, an

automatic alarm adapted to indicate that the' trolley has jumped from the conductor-wire, and automatic means whereby compressed air is'supplied by quick action of the piston and adapted to -be'cut off by slow action thereof, suhstan natt as described;

6, In a trplloy-controller operating to pull down the trolley-pole when the trolley leaves the conductor-wire, a normally inactive piston in operative connection with the trolleypole, means for conveying air under pressure to the said piston, closed by a valve adapted to be opened by air-pressure exerted by the said piston when the trolley leaves the con ductor-w'ire, and automatic means whereby the trolley is held pulleddown, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a trolley-controller employing compressed air and mechanism operated thereby which is normally inactive but adapted to be worked by quick action. of the trolley-pole through suitable connecting and intermediate means, suitable casing with connecting tubing and a piston-valve, the

latter having a passage therethrough normally open but adapted to be closed by excessive pressure produced on one side of the piston-valve when the trolley jumps its conductor-wire substantially as described.

8. In a trolley-controller and in co'mbination, an upright cylinder, a fixed catch, a piston in the cylinder having means at the upper endof its rod adapted for locking engagement with said fixed catch, when the piston reaches substantially the limit of its downward stroke, a cord extending from the upper end of the piston-rod passing around, and fixed, to a rotatable drum, a larger drum fixed to the latterand having flexible connection with the trolley-pole, a suitable casing having open communication with both ends of the said cylinder, 2. tube extending from some supply of compressed air, a yielding pistonvalve within the said casing normally serving to cut off the said supply of compressed air, a passage through the piston-valve normally open but adapted to,be closed by ex' cessivepressure of air produced in the upper end of the cylinder upon quick action imparted to the said piston-when the trolley jumps its comluctor-wire substantiallyas described.

WALTER. l3. LEliUltAF'l.

\Vitnosses:

JAMES R. lna'r'r, 1*. J. EBAY. 

